I don’t like that its dark out when I leave to go to the gym. Or that my bed is toasty under our down comforter. When my alarm went off it felt like I just fell asleep. I ended up snoozing in for 15 more minutes, but got my butt out of bed at 6:30. I was at the gym by 6:50 – I didn’t have much planned, basically wanted to see how packed the gym was at that hour.
Turns out there were only a dozen people there. I ended up walking 3 minutes, running at 5.0 mph for 25 minutes, then 2 minute cool down. I was back home by 7:50, showered, dressed and in my car to work by 8:10. š It’s okay if you call me Speedy Gonzales. š
FYI, I only put my hand on the heart rate monitor after the two minute cool down. I still need to make a doctor appointment at my regular doctor to check out my blood pressure – although I see my diabetes doctor on January 23, so maybe I’ll kill two birds with one stone then?
Breakfast was one of my ham/spinach tarts with an apple/banana saute with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon sugar. Breakfast comes in at only 4 WW points. I reheated the tart in our toaster oven – the bread was extra crispy. š
The Chicagoland weather continues to be stunning – yesterday was 48 degrees when I went for a 45 minute walk. Love all the sun!
Melissa, you’ll like that the geese were walking with me!
So refreshing! I’ll enjoy our near 50 degree days until Thursday, when the bottom falls out and it will actually feel like January in Chicago, until then I’ll take what I can get.
I ended up making two different soups over the weekend. The first one was inspired by Cooking Light’s Indian Spiced Roasted Squash Soup. I had a butternut squash and a sweet potato so I modified this recipe a bit – and ended up adding pureed tomato at the end to balance out the flavors for my taste – so it became a:
Indian Spiced Roasted Root Veggie Tomato Soup
- made 4, 1.5 cup servings – 149 caloires, 2 fat, 32 carbs, 6.4 fiber and 4.9 protein, or 4 WW points per serving
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces carrots, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 8 ounces sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- cracked pepper and sea salt (to taste)
- 2 cups water
- 2 (14 oz.) cans chicken broth
- 2 cups tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teapoon szchewan pepper
- garnish with Greek yogurt and cilantro if desired
Preheat oven to 500. Mix the carrots, cloves, butternut squash and sweet potato, oil and salt and pepper on a jelly roll pan. Roast for 30 minutes, tossing half way through.
Put the roasted veggies and remaining ingredients in a large stock pot. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes. Using a stick blender, blend to desired consistency.
I love the flavor combination – spicy, yet flavorful at the same time. On the side I had a tossed salad with 1 point dressing, with a toasted everything bagel for dipping into my soup – lunch comes in at 8 WW points.
Tony has been having a rough time of it – nothing appeals to him in the food department, he’s sleepy and tired most of the time. I feel guilty being so active around him when he isn’t up for much. We did snuggle on the sofa Sunday night and we are caught up with Shameless – I think in the last two weekends we saw 13 episodes? Such a well written and acted show.
So here is yet another installment of Biz Food for One. A single serving based on Cooking Light’s Pepperoni Chicken – you can find the recipe here, and her description of how her family liked it – naming it Pizza Chicken! I served mine over egg noodles. Tony just had some noodles. š Dinner comes in at 10 WW points.
It was just 1/2 ounce of pepperoni and a 1/2 ounce of cheese, but it was perfect – I chopped it all up and got a taste of the chicken, pepperoni, noodles and cheese in almost every bite. The dog was happy to lick my plate clean too. š
Stats for Monday
- 35 minute treadmill before work
- 45 minute walk during lunch
- 5 minutes abs after dinner
- biceps and triceps after dinner, 5 lb. weights 3/12 sets
- average blood sugar 139
A new recipe I want to try. . . soon!
Janetha made whole wheat yogurt pancakes that end up being 1 WW point each – and they are nice and fluffy!
Off to get my sweat on – make it a great day! š
I have gotten so many emails and comments about the Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup – it’s divine! I have a big old b’nut squash that I think I’ll make this soup with!
You are SPEEDY in the morning. That’s the precise reason morning workouts are hard for me…I need at least an hour after a workout to cooldown and get ready :-/
So glad the soup is a hit Nicole! š
I hope Mr. Tony feels better š My hubby says he is willing to try the pepperoni chicken but he’ll “Take the green stuff off.” He liked your blog pictures by the way š
Vanessa Joy
Thanks Vanessa! Yep, my husband doens’t like the green stuff either! š
Your photos look amazing! That soup sounds amazing I love the Indian spices!
Sorry Tony has no appetite. I’m sure you would love to be cooking for him.
We’ve had the same weather as you this January…I cannot remember a January when the sun has shone so much…a midwest girl could really get used to this! š Great job on the exercise!!
Haha Tony, loved your comment!! What did you eat???!! Errighn has no worries, you are still healing that’s all! š (easy for me to say) You have to take care of yourself too Biz, I’m sure Tony wouldn’t have it any other way!
It’s beautiful here in WA state too, sunny and mild, we are going for our walk soon, can’t wait to be outside! Love the pizza chicken, sounds great!
Well, Tony ate a roll this afternoon but drumroll . . . he ate fried chicken for dinner tonight – woot! Go protein! š
Hehe! I love the geese walking with you! I was walking with savannah sparrows and horned larks this morning…they’re not as exciting though. š they’re tiny and well, just little brown birds I have a hard time id’ing! hehehe!
And such beautiful weather! I’m glad you’re finding time to be outside!
I love the picture of the veggies pre-roast… produce is just so photogenic! š
I agree!
I have so many Indian spices I never use, this soup looks great. Sorry Tony is still not eating š
I hope Tony perks up soon. It is so hard to feel up to snuff in the dead of winter even if the weather is a bit warmer than usual. I have been going to the gym at noon, which is nice and quiet since most folks are at work. I made an Indian dish last week and loved it and wondered why I don’t cook Indian more often since it is so healthy and full of flavor!
I love food for one recipes–have you posted any involving mushrooms? Marshall hates those so it’d be fun to make my own dinner and make him eat cereal š The soup looks great.. LOVE Indian spices and only recently started playing with them.
Sorry J – I am with Marshall – next to onions, mushrooms are almost as gross, although I can add them to the base of pasta sauce as long as I puree the hell out of them. I’d be eating Lucky Charms with Marshall. š
Your root veggies were $0.19 lb??? OOOH…jealous!!! I thought I’d found a bargain when I got a butternut squash for $0.79 lb. Have a great Tuesday Vat!!!!
Great job getting to the gym! We were snooze twins – the alarm went off at 5:15 and I stayed in bed til 5:25, was home from my run at 6:05 (dark, cold, not much to report) and then had time to make a smoothie and empty the dishwasher before I needed to be in the shower at 6:20, and was out the door to catch my train at 7:01. Not bad!
Well, I already have a twin, so you could be our triplet! š
Remember, taking better care of yourself allows you to be healthy to take care of Tony. He needs you so don’t you dare drop the ball on taking care of yourself first! š No guilt!!!
I haven’t been back to the pool since Jan 1st – interested to see if it’s as crowded as the gym probably is. Nice that yours wasn’t too bad! š
Hope Tony feels better soon – that is just not fun, feeling crummy.
That soup has tons of great ingredients, yum. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning to work out and I live in California! I can be such a wimp sometimes, thanks for the motivation.
How much is Tony eating? Have you talked to the doctor much? My mother really stopped eating the last couple of months. And she died. So. Make sure you take good care of him.
Man, you are putting me to shame in the exercise department!
It’s not that my husband doesn’t want to eat, just nothing appeals to him – its been a hard road since his colon cancer surgery – and they said it may take a year before things get back to normal, and with the added hernia surgery I think that’s just set him back some. š
The news of my impending death has Errighn very concerned. I’m gonna go eat the first thing I see.
Thanks for keeping me motivated. I started working out/being active for 30 minutes everyday for 30 days. I started Dec 31st (of course). I have been a long time reader and serial WW girl. I can never keep consistant. I am hoping to finally do it this year. Day 11 and i have only whimped out one day (sick). 20 days to go and then on to a new goal maybe 45 mins for 30days or pilates for 30 days:) Anyways thanks for recipes and the motivation. I love reading you.
Thanks Julia! I also got up and to the gym BEFORE work today – this morning was all strength training – 40 minutes so I know I’ll be sore tomorrow, but in a good way! Today’s temps in the mid 50’s mean a run at lunch too – woot! š
The “pizza chicken” looks awesome. I love all things pizza š I’ve been craving your deep dish pizza but have not made it b/c I have no will power and will eat wayyy too much! You’re doing awesome with the exercise! Hope Tony gets to feeling better very soon.
I need to make those ham/spinach tarts, looks like the perfect breakfast. I have been having protein smoothies for breakfast. Makes it easy, one less meal to plan.
I predict my WW meeting will be full today at lunch. We’ll see. Usually, January has really packed meetings and then things “simmer down.” š
Food looks great as always. I think it’s great that you take the time to cook even when it’s for one. I take the easy way out and heat up a frozen entree or make a big salad. Laziness I guess.
I usually say “summer down” because my WW meeting is about 1/3 of its normal size during the summer. š
I am sorry that Tony isn’t feeling so well. Don’t feel guilty taking care of yourself! It has to be done.
I pinned the soup recipe š
Our gym is kind of crazy at all times, unless you get there around 10 am or 1 pm. In the mornings it’s full of Airmen doing their PT and the same for afternoons. In the evenings it’s packed with everyone else š
I think that our nice weather is just about over with now, Wednesday-Sunday looks kind of gross. Hopefully it doesn’t snow on Thursday like it’s supposed to, or I won’t make it home!
I have the worst time getting up in the mornings lately. Definitely something I need to work on.
Love the idea of pizza chicken!
I was upset with my gym last night. It’s not a big gym and it was packed. I am going back to my early morning work outs tomorrow morning, no more evening ones unless I go really late.
Your run was awesome, keep it up Biz.
I’m north west of you and this weather is awesome, yes today is the last super nice day so I’m getting out for a run during nap time if I can get mama to just come and sit for a bit.
Take care Biz and have a blessed day!!
Hi Biz! I live just north of you in Milwaukee, and is the weather ever fabulous! It feels like spring. Doggy and I are enjoying it too.
I want to try that soup. I love those kinds of spices and it sounds inexpensive.
š Marion
My grocery store has had root veggies (i.e. butternut squash, sweet potato, acorn and spaghetti squash) for .19 cents a pound for the last few weeks – score! š
Last night, my girlfriend posted as her Facebook update that the gym was so packed that her Zumba class looked more like a flash mob! š
:). My gym has been much more packed in the mornings! I had 30 people in my 545 AM Body Pump class I teach on Monday mornings! There wasn’t a bar left! Craziness! In a good way though- hope everyone sticks with it. Whoop whoop. That soup…mmmm :). Squash in soup is so darn good. Hope Tony starts feeling better- poor guy!